TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Lauren Book, member, Florida Senate. Kudos to Stacey Abrams of Georgia. Kudos for more than just helping win her state but for setting out a ten-year course and following through. Democrats in Florida need to take note. There are no easy answers, no magical words or secret formulas except hard work, perseverance, follow through and persistence. She built a real coalition, did the very hard work and led her state to do what nobody thought could be done. With this week’s double win and after helping build a victory for Joe Biden, all Democrats should take notice.

Lamar Fisher, member, Broward County Commission. As vaccinations began rolling out this week in Broward, there was much confusion and many questions from residents. Many residents faced challenges with appointments, confirmation emails, long waiting times and/ or being turned away due to shortage. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County received the COVID-19 vaccine, and Broward County administration is willing to help in any way possible. While the logistics has been handled by the health department, I know that we will certainly work with our partners in the department and stand ready to assist, getting this vaccine to our most vulnerable population as quickly and safely as possible.

Lois Frankel, member, U.S. House of Representatives. This week, we experienced an unprecedented attack on the Capitol by a mob that was incited by Donald Trump. Congress still came together and defended the will of the people by certifying the results of the 2020 election. We experienced a dark moment in American history this week, but our democracy remains strong and will continue to prevail. I am optimistic that with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House, better days are ahead.

Michael Gottlieb, member, Florida House of Representatives. This week the Broward Delegation met with the BCPS School Board. We learned that Broward needs immediate academic interventions for our public-school children. Over 8,000 children are missing from our Broward Public School system due to COVID. Approximately 15% more students are obtaining grades of D and F or incompletes. Despite over 100,000 computers being distributed, 1% of enrolled students are not using the online system. And our teachers and school personnel have not been made a priority by our governor to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. With an increase in food/financial/housing insecurity, these students are going to have lasting negative impacts and we must find innovative ways to fund their ability to have mental health contacts and counseling.

Harold Pryor, state attorney, 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County. Freedom of speech and the right of peaceful assembly are fundamental to our democracy. Peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment right will have no greater ally than me, regardless of what they are protesting. What happened at the U.S. Capitol was not citizens exercising those rights. It was an assault not only on foundational democratic institutions, but also on democracy itself. I have a zero-tolerance policy in this jurisdiction toward any act of violence against individuals, institutions or law enforcement, and any crimes like we saw on Wednesday will be prosecuted swiftly and severely.

Mike Ryan, mayor, Sunrise. While the Broward County Department of Health deserves kudos for securing the necessary freezers to store vaccine, they can’t do what is necessary alone. The county’s failure to deploy emergency management incident command principles has crippled us. Now, like the desperate post-storm hunt for supplies, we are chasing information to find vaccine sites and when help is coming. Hospital systems, municipalities and local partners are unconnected to a central hub for logistics, real-time resource response and communication of accurate information. The lack of transparency in vaccine milestones and strategies reduces confidence. We need and deserve local leadership.

Laurie Sallarulo, CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida. What a stressful first week of 2021 this has been here on earth! A good time to focus on positive news and hope of a promising future. Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, launched its first rocket of the year Thursday from Cape Canaveral. The company delivered a Turkish communications satellite to orbit and officials confirmed that the ground teams received the first radio signals from the satellite. SpaceX plans to launch more than 40 missions this year, many from Florida. The planned launches in 2021 would break SpaceX’s record of flights last year.

Gordon Weekes, public defender, 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County. After an incredibly challenging year, we walk into 2021 with renewed hope and vision for the future. I am greatly honored and humbled as I begin my role as your elected Public Defender. As we begin this new year together, I want to thank you for your confidence. I promise to lead the Law Office of the Public Defender with integrity, to always fight for the poor and forgotten, to ensure that the mentally ill and our children are treated with dignity, and to protect the constitutional rights of all. Happy, healthy New Year to you and justice to all!